DERN
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 5-3-2007
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Were the planets alined over Tecate just last Tues?
Besides our 10 mile-ish 4x4 trip heading to Tecate everything went smooth. ( I can see how that section can be a real bit$h when it has rained.) We
hit the border with only a 30 minute wait.
Typically we get thrown into secondary. It never fails. Not this time however. We were met by this VERY NICE young gal at the booth. We handed her our
passports and then rolled down the back window to show her Cody the kid and Carter the dog who were both asleep. She took a step back when she saw
Carter. We said "He's just a puppy of 4 1/2 months." Her reply was "NAH UH!!" By then Carter had awoke and she could tell by his puppy face that it
was indeed fact. She then proceeded to pull out her note pad that usually means your off to secondary. Not this time though. She wanted to right down
what his breed was, so she could look it up on the Internet. She stated that she has always wanted a big dog but can never convince her husband. After
all that, she went through the quick run down of what we're bring back and we were on our way.
So, after a bit, we roll into the other Border Patrol checkpoint as we're heading to S.D. The officer stops us. (He was wearing green.) He asked us
how far south we were on our trip. I was kinda confused at that point. I told him that we just crossed at Tecate. What he wanted to know was how far
south in Baja were we. I told him we went to BOLA. He then wanted to chat it up. Come to find out, he and his buddies were just down at Puertecitos
over the holidays. As the traffic is backing up behind us, we're comparing weather reports, road details/conditions etc. Once again, a VERY NICE
Officer.
I have to say that this was the most pleasant experience I have ever encountered crossing the border. I wish they were all like that.
DERN
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Ain't it nice when they act like humans? Keep this positive experience in mind for future crossings when they have the scope in their hands and tell
you to grab your ankles. 
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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Glad you had a good trip Dern. It is always nice to have an experience like that....which is the way it should be EVERY time!
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
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Mood: Want to fish!!!
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I have had that happen a few times in the last hundred or so crossings. A breath of fresh air after the normal bad attitudes. I do have to say, since
I got my new collie pup a few months ago, they seem a little more easy to deal with. That long snout and foot long tongue get 'em every time. Even the
Marines at the military checkpoints want to pet him, then smile and wave me through.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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That sounds like the typical crossing we have at Tecate. There is only one agent who has somewhat of an attitude --- just not real friendly, but not
a problem. The other ones are always friendly, have a sense of humor and make crossing a pleasant experience.
Last time we crossed I was driving and when we pulled up, before the woman could speak, I asked her what was with the 30 minute wait, we were used to
5 minutes at the most. She laughed and told us exactly when not to cross if we did not want to wait.
Seriously, besides there being no wait, usually, it is why we go out of our way to cross there coming home----there is a whole different attitude at
that crossing, and it is a good one.
But once when we had to wait for about 1 minute while the one car in front of us crossed, the agent gave us a look when we said we were from Imperial
Beach---when we quickly said we hate the line at the Tijuana crossings, he smiled and said quiet---don't spread the word. I think there is just a lot
less pressure and they like it that way.
BTW---can understand why she did not think Carter was a puppy!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65286
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Nice!
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surfer jim
Super Nomad
Posts: 1891
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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Be glad you didn't get that agent with the "mean" look on his face.....
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DianaT
That sounds like the typical crossing we have at Tecate. There is only one agent who has somewhat of an attitude --- just not real friendly, but not
a problem. The other ones are always friendly, have a sense of humor and make crossing a pleasant experience.
Last time we crossed I was driving and when we pulled up, before the woman could speak, I asked her what was with the 30 minute wait, we were used to
5 minutes at the most. She laughed and told us exactly when not to cross if we did not want to wait.
Seriously, besides there being no wait, usually, it is why we go out of our way to cross there coming home----there is a whole different attitude at
that crossing, and it is a good one.
But once when we had to wait for about 1 minute while the one car in front of us crossed, the agent gave us a look when we said we were from Imperial
Beach---when we quickly said we hate the line at the Tijuana crossings, he smiled and said quiet---don't spread the word. I think there is just a lot
less pressure and they like it that way.
BTW---can understand why she did not think Carter was a puppy! |
So let us in on the secret the agent passed onto you: "exactly when not to cross..."
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
So let us in on the secret the agent passed onto you: "exactly when not to cross..." |
Early morning work traffic would be my guess. After 9AM, it's a breeze.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
So let us in on the secret the agent passed onto you: "exactly when not to cross..." |
Early morning work traffic would be my guess. After 9AM, it's a breeze. |
OH, that is top secret information.
No, we were crossing on a Monday late afternoon and it was after a holiday weekend. We knew that Sunday afternoons could be not so good, but she also
told us Monday, Friday and any holiday afternoons were not good. Friday and holidays made sense to us, but she said many stretch out the weekend to
include Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and maybe a line of one or two cars.
But, even if there is a line, the line is far more civilized and FAR less stressful----one line and a few friendly vendors.
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2120
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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Well I guess that`s cool, but a 10 mile detour and a 30 minute wait?
Yesterday (Wed. 1/6) I crossed at 9AM @ SY and had a 12 minute wait.
They are "stacking" some inspection lanes for the morning commute and it seems to be working. I checked today and @ 8AM the wait was 15 minutes at SY
and 25minutes at Tecate.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BornFisher
Well I guess that`s cool, but a 10 mile detour and a 30 minute wait?
Yesterday (Wed. 1/6) I crossed at 9AM @ SY and had a 12 minute wait.
They are "stacking" some inspection lanes for the morning commute and it seems to be working. I checked today and @ 8AM the wait was 15 minutes at SY
and 25minutes at Tecate. |
That is good if you can cross in the morning. I hope it will help all the commuters.
But, we always hit the border in the afternoon. And usually 5 minutes is a long wait at Tecate and we would rather drive the extra miles than deal
with the insanity.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BornFisher
Yesterday (Wed. 1/6) I crossed at 9AM @ SY and had a 12 minute wait.
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Yesterday was Día De Los Reyes, a holiday. I wonder if that had anything to do with the short wait.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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At the little checkpoint just east of Jacumbu on I-8 east I was pulled over for no apparent reason other than the agent that directed me to their
"secondary inspection" was a friend all the way back from 1st to 8th grade and recognized me, we chatted it up pretty good.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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